Host and co-executive producer of the new ESPN series, “Backstory”
Member of three Pulitzer Prize-winning teams for national, explanatory and public service journalism
Author of three books, including New York Times best-selling “First Off the Tee: Presidential Hackers, Duffers, and Cheaters from Taft to Bush”
24-year newspaper career at The New York Times and Miami Herald
Oct 30, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
Federal law officers are investigating a youth baseball company owned by the Major League Baseball Players Association that spent at least $3.9 million while holding few sparsely attended live events for kids, sources familiar with the inquiry told ESPN.
The Florida-based business, Players Way, has generated barely six figures in revenue since its founding in 2019. While the union said it has put $3.9 million into the company, two sources with knowledge of union finances and who have talked with investigators told ESPN that the amount is closer to $10 million.
The former officials said Players Way funds largely paid the six-figure annual salaries of its executives and consultants. They include a handful of former major leaguers, some of whom were simultaneously working other full-time jobs outside the union.
One of the former senior union officials described Players Way finances as a “black box.”
Players Way was cited in an anonymous whistleblower complaint last November that triggered an ongoing criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, which last week brought criminal indictments against two NBA coaches, a current player and nearly two dozen Mafia-connected figures.
The complaint accused MLBPA executive director Tony Clark of self-dealing, misuse of resources and abuse of power at the union. It also alleged nepotism in his dealings with Players Way, which he helped launch with lofty aspirations to transform youth baseball across America. The MLBPA at the time denied all the allegations as “entirely without merit.”
Clark, who has not been charged with any crime, and other union officials have dismissed the whistleblower allegations as “baseless.” He declined to be interviewed for this story. In a written statement to ESPN this week, Clark said he created Players Way “as an oasis for young athletes and families who too often get exploited in today’s billion-dollar ‘youth sports’ machinery.”
Union officials declined to say how Players Way spent millions of dollars. The union told ESPN it has three budgets — one for operations ($27.5 million this year); another for MLB Players Inc., its for-profit licensing firm ($7.1 million this year); and a third players-approved “discretionary” budget for Clark to spend as he sees fit.
The union declined to say how much cash was in the discretionary pot this year, whether Players Way was ever funded from discretionary funds, or whether players specifically approved spending by the company.
“Any suggestion that Players Way has not been supported by our elected Player representatives and broader membership is patently false,” Clark said in his statement. “Players Way has been front and center at every annual meeting of the MLBPA Executive Board in recent memory, and our dialogue with Players regarding youth development continues throughout the calendar.”
Federal investigators declined to comment, citing the ongoing inquiry. Union revenues have grown significantly in recent years through the creation of OneTeam Partners, a group-licensing firm the MLBPA co-founded with the National Football League Players Association in 2019.
In May, ESPN reported that investigators from the Justice Department were looking into the unions’ financial dealings with OneTeam, which three years ago had a valuation of nearly $2 billion.
Sources interviewed by ESPN said the investigation widened this summer to include Players Way. Investigators also have asked witnesses about whistleblower allegations of excessive union spending on international and domestic trips for Clark and other senior union executives, the sources said.
One player leader, when asked about the Players Way expenditures, told ESPN, “It doesn’t matter how much we’ve made. Waste is waste.”
“And given the level of frustration we’ve had with [union leadership] about this sort of stuff, it’s going to come up,” the player said. “Whenever Players Way is mentioned, we all just nod along. But I don’t think any of us realized it cost as much as it did.”
ESPN interviewed nearly 30 current and former union officials, lawyers, players and people with knowledge of the federal inquiry, most of whom spoke only on the condition of anonymity.
Multiple former union officials said Players Way has operated without standard accounting practices and with no annual budgets circulated among senior finance officials.
An MLBPA official, in a written statement, acknowledged to ESPN that Players Way did not have its own budget but was operated as “part of the overall org budget.” “But the folks working on it were tracking and projecting expenses the way any department at the PA does,” the official said.
While public union filings show the MLBPA committed a total of only $83,550 to Players Way, nearly all the $3,891,249 the union said Players Way has spent came from Players Inc. Like Players Way, the finances of Players Inc. are not disclosed to the Department of Labor.
The union provided ESPN with an annual breakdown of money it says it spent on Players Way. In 2018, according to the MLBPA, Players Way spent $181,054, a figure that grew annually and peaked in 2024 at $1,127,656. This year, as of Oct. 6, the union said $647,058 has been spent on Players Way.
The sources familiar with the MLBPA’s financials, though, told ESPN the company received far more cash from Players Inc., including more than $2 million over one 18-month period to fund payroll and other activities. At several other times when Players Way needed to cover shortfalls, roughly $1 million of Players Inc. money was transferred to the company, the sources said.
The money spent, the former officials told ESPN, included $1.2 million from 2022 to 2024 provided by Fanatics Inc., an MLBPA licensing partner.
When the MLBPA struck a deal with Fanatics in 2021 for the exclusive license to produce baseball cards, the company agreed to pay the union $400,000 annually from 2022 to 2024 to support the union’s youth baseball initiatives, including Players Way, the sources told ESPN.
“We were and continue to be excited to invest with MLBPA in Players Way as part of our multi-billion-dollar long-term partnership,” a Fanatics spokesman said. “Youth baseball development is critical to the success of the sport and we have complete confidence that the MLBPA will invest the funds in a way that creates long-term value for all parties involved.”
Both former finance officials said they raised concerns about the Players Inc. transfers with senior leadership, but the transactions continued. One of the finance officials said Clark personally approved the transfers to Players Way, usually in six-figure chunks. “It was just money going out the door,” the source told ESPN.
Another former official called Players Way a “total waste of money.”
ON ITS WEBSITE, Players Way lists its company headquarters at 13506 Summerport Village Parkway, Suite 226, in Windermere, Florida, about 20 miles west of Orlando. It’s in a strip mall, flanked by a liquor store and a chain hair salon. But the “suite” is not a suite at all. It’s a mail box at a UPS Store where an employee confirmed to ESPN that Box 226 is registered to Players Way LLC.
The MLBPA partnered with the United States Specialty Sports Association in 2018 to provide an alternative to existing youth baseball organizations that dominate the market. Players Way was officially founded a year later, with Clark saying he wanted to fix what many in baseball see as a broken youth baseball system. His son was involved in travel baseball at the time, and Clark said he believed the sport deserved better than the high costs, long weekends and lack of regard for young pitchers’ arms that existed.
“The goal — informed by players themselves — isn’t to become just another cog in the youth sports machinery, putting profits over players,” Clark said in his statement to ESPN. “It aims higher: to meet players where they are, teach the game the right way, and to foster lifelong lessons creating lifelong fans. Future generations deserve nothing less.”
Standing in a netted indoor practice facility, in front of pitching machines, tees and L-shaped pitching screens, Clark introduced Players Way publicly in June 2020 with a video posted on YouTube. A former official said Clark viewed the initiative as an essential part of his plan to tap retired major leaguers to shape the next generation of baseball players. “Players Way was something he always brought up,” the former official said. “It was very important to Tony. It was not anything anyone paid attention to in how it was operated.”
Inside the MLBPA, employees questioned the company’s purpose and apparent lack of a business plan despite Players Way having “a voracious appetite for cash that seemed to just waste money year after year,” a former employee said.
“We had no events, we had no activities, we are not publicizing, we are not partnering with other youth groups,” one former official said. “There was no clear goal.”
Former union officials interviewed by ESPN said that Players Way appeared to be a landing spot for Clark’s loyalists — and, said one, “few players knew anything about it.”
The MLBPA’s relationship with USSSA faltered after summer 2023, when two former employees with USSSA filed a federal whistleblower lawsuit alleging a top association official was running an illegal bookmaking operation. After severing from USSSA, the MLBPA rebooted its marketing effort for Players Way in 2024, including a new YouTube channel that as of this week had one subscriber. It features a video of former major league catcher Chris Iannetta that has been viewed about 200 times. The other two videos had a total of 28 views as of this week.
Iannetta is a former MLBPA executive subcommittee member who, along with former USSSA employees D.J. Wabick and Kevin Reynolds, is on the Players Way leadership team, according to union filings. In total, the union said, six employees and contractors work at Players Way.
According to the documents, the MLBPA paid Iannetta $156,000 and Reynolds $167,000 in 2024 as union consultants. Wabick, a former Triple-A outfielder, joined the MLBPA full time as its director of youth baseball and development in December 2024 but was paid $182,623 for his work last year.
While union salaries, including Clark’s $3.4 million in 2024, are made public through annual Labor Department filings, the financial dealings of Players Way and other for-profit companies under the MLB Players Inc. umbrella are opaque. In the complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board last November, the union whistleblower alleged one of Clark’s daughters was employed by Players Way, identified in the complaint as “an MLBPA-controlled entity.”
The daughter resigned in March 2024, after union employees critical of Clark raised her employment as an issue, multiple sources said. According to union documents, she worked for five months and was paid $13,300 by the union as a consultant to Players Way.
The complaint against Clark also alleged he had “arranged for another daughter to be hired at another labor union using his influence.” That daughter has worked as membership services coordinator for the NFL Players Association since October 2022.
The whistleblower also alleged that Clark “improperly hired a family member as an MLBPA real estate agent and paid an unnecessary commission.”
Sources with knowledge of the ongoing federal probe said investigators have inquired about circumstances around the union’s securing of a satellite office in Scottsdale, Arizona, that Clark uses regularly and a new office space in midtown Manhattan.
After ESPN reported about the federal investigation in May, multiple empty offices in the New York office were affixed with OneTeam placards.
BY ITS OWN accounting, the union spent more than $3 million on Players Way from its founding in 2019 until November 2024. During that time, the union said, the company held six baseball clinics for kids, four “mental skills webinars” and several “panel discussions,” including one attended by Clark. The events could cost up to $499 to attend for a two-day camp, according to the website.
A union official told ESPN the rollout of Players Way was intentionally slow “because to figure out our rightful position within the industry without fragmenting it and without driving up more costs takes time and thoughtfulness.” Six years later, the return on the investment into Players Way has little to show.
This year, Players Way has hosted a handful of sparsely attended events for teenagers. The events, a mix of camps, competitions, showcases for those aspiring to play in college and a tournament organized with Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung, have drawn fewer than 500 attendees in all, according to the company website.
Jung told ESPN his event, a nine-team tournament last year, would return in 2026 and that he enjoyed the experience of working with Players Way. A union official said no further events supported by individual players are on the schedule, which, according to Players Way’s website, has seven events — with fewer than 25 kids signed up total — scheduled between now and March 21, 2026.
“I’m hoping we can expand it, and I’m hoping that we can get it out early enough,” Jung said. “You want to be able to put it on people’s radar early. And I think that sabotaged us a little bit this year. But also, they kept it pretty small just to make sure that they could run the event correctly.”
In recent months, as former union finance officials answered questions for investigators, MLBPA executives increased the Players Way slate of events and sent out promotional messages about the company’s future to player leaders.
During Labor Day weekend, Clark and Wabick, the leader of Players Way, met in Chicago and hosted a videoconference with other Players Way consultants to discuss strategy, the union told ESPN. On the same September day an ESPN reporter visited the Players Way UPS post office box in Florida, MLBPA executives sent a lengthy slide deck to players’ leadership updating them on Players Way.
A former union finance official said he told federal investigators that total company revenues over five years “barely hit six figures.” The company has canceled nearly as many events as it has held. “Players Way was a bad investment,” the former official said. “They just kept throwing money at it.”
A former major league player who worked with Players Way said the executives in charge seemed to do little and were busy working other full-time jobs.
“It was unclear who was in charge, who was running it,” said the former player, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Someone needed to be a CEO, but the people in charge said, ‘I don’t have time.’ But they were all getting paid.”
Reach reporter Don Van Natta Jr. at don.vannatta@espn.com and Jeff Passan at jeffrey.passan@espn.com. ESPN researcher John Mastroberardino contributed to this report.
Whether it’s in AAU youth basketball or the NBA Finals, most basketball fans can tell you a team isn’t likely to win a game when it misses its first 11 shots.
But once in a while, a team manages to defy the odds. That team on Tuesday night was Boise State. Despite starting 0-for-11 from the field and not scoring their first field goal until over 8 minutes into the game, the Broncos managed to defeat New Mexico 62-53 at ExtraMile Arena.
Boise State (9-4, 1-1 Mountain West) went just 20-for-56 (35.7%) from the field, but fortunately for the Broncos, New Mexico (10-3, 1-1) didn’t fare much better. Although the Lobos didn’t start the game quite as poorly, they ended shooting an even worse 20-for-65 (30.8%), including making just three of their final 15 shots.
“Some nights the game of basketball just is like that,” Boise State head coach Leon Rice said after the game. “Credit their defense, credit our defense. Both teams did a really nice job defensively.”
The win marks Rice’s 169th regular-season win in the Mountain West, surpassing legendary coach Steve Fisher for the most regular-season wins in conference history. Fisher coached San Diego State from 1999 to 2017 and won the NCAA National Championship as Michigan’s head coach in 1989.
Boise State coach Leon Rice talks with player Aginaldo Neto in the second half of their game against New Mexico at ExtraMile Arena, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com
Boise State came into Tuesday night’s late tipoff assuming it would need to be hot from beyond the arc. The Lobos boast one of the best interior defenses in the Mountain West and have forced opponents this year into taking over half of their shots (51.2%) from beyond the arc.
So when Boise State missed its first nine three-point attempts of the game, the Broncos’ outlook wasn’t too optimistic. Yet, thanks to some poor Lobos shooting down the other end of the court, by the time junior forward Drew Fielder sunk the Broncos’ first field goal of the game after the 12-minute media timeout, Boise State trailed just 8-5.
Fielder’s 3-pointer finally opened things up for the Broncos, who ended the half on a 19-5 run to take a testy 21-19 lead into the half.
“It seemed like we got some open looks, but every one of our shots was a three, and some of them were really open,” Rice said. “Not that I don’t want to shoot those, but we seemed like we were a step slow or (taking) the path of least resistance, we were settling.”
By the end of the night, Boise State shot just 6-for-30 (20%) from 3-point range. But with the Lobos shooting just 3-for-25 (12%) from beyond the arc, down from their usual 33.4%, the Broncos got away with a poor night from the field.
The 53 points scored by New Mexico were its lowest point total of the season. Parallel to that, the Broncos’ 62 points also tied their lowest point total of the season. However, Boise State has also won all three of those games — 62-58 over Montana State and 62-59 over Wichita State.
“It’s all about defense,” said freshman guard AG Neto, who ended the night with 10 points and two defensive rebounds.
“Every team that plays us, they know we’re a good defensive team,” Neto continued. “So we don’t worry about offense if we play good defense.”
For as poor as the first half was offensively, New Mexico appeared to put that behind them coming out of the halftime break. The Lobos embarked on a quick 13-0 run to take a sudden 30-21 lead and take the air out of ExtraMile Arena.
But just as Neto stepped up off the bench to produce a solid 25 minutes of play, it was a fellow freshman, forward Spencer Ahrens, who pulled the Broncos out of the ditch.
Ahrens scored a team-high 12 points off the bench, with 10 of those coming in a four-minute stretch early in the second half. Ahrens ended the Lobos’ 13-0 run with a pair of jumpers before then sinking two 3-pointers, the second of which came deep from downtown and charged life back into ExtraMile Arena as the Broncos quickly narrowed the score to 36-33.
“The team needed a spark, and I’ve been working so hard in practice and stuff, I knew it was going to come,” Ahrens said. “I’m not forcing anything, just letting the game come to me.”
Boise State’s Spencer Ahrens dribbles the ball in the second half of their game against New Mexico at ExtraMile Arena, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com
The Broncos took a 42-41 lead a few minutes after Ahrens’ run, thanks to a layup from Neto, and didn’t look back for the rest of the game.
The pair of freshmen led an impressive night from a Boise State bench that scored 37 points, more than the 25 the starting five managed. Sophomore forward Pearson Carmichael also chipped in off the bench with 11 points.
After the Broncos started the game 8-0 down, Rice went to his bench and subbed out four of the starters, with only Meadow left on the court. The switch helped stymie the Lobos’ early domination before several starters returned to the court.
“When on the bench, we’re reading the game,” Neto said. “We see what the team needs at the moment we get in. So when I get in the game, I kind of know what the team needs, and the game is easier for us coming off the bench because you can see it from outside.”
Shaun Goodwin
Idaho Statesman
Shaun Goodwin is the Boise State Athletics reporter for the Idaho Statesman, covering Broncos football, basketball and more. If you like stories like this, please consider supporting our work with a digital subscription.
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Purdue delivered a dominant performance Monday night (Dec. 29), routing Kent State 101-60 at Mackey Arena as the No. 5 Boilermakers topped the century mark in nonconference play.
Purdue improved to 12-1 on the season while emptying the bench, with Mr. Indiana Basketball runner-up (2024) Jack Benter leading the way with 20 points. The Boilermakers return to Big Ten action against Wisconsin on Saturday (Jan. 3).
Elsewhere on the college hardwood Monday night (Dec. 29), Indiana State edged Belmont 81-80 in overtime in Terre Haute, while Ball State cruised past Earlham 93-30.
Notre Dame opens Atlantic Coast Conference play with a late road test at Stanford tonight (Dec. 30), marking the start of league action for both programs.
In the NBA, the Indiana Pacers dropped their ninth straight game Monday night (Dec. 29), falling at Houston 126-119. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 23 points as the Pacers slipped to 6-27 on the season. Indiana returns home to host the Orlando Magic tomorrow afternoon (Dec. 31), with coverage on 103.9 FM and the WRBI App.
Local Youth Basketball
Local teams were also in action Monday (Dec. 29) during holiday tournament play, with the St. Louis seventh-grade boys team finishing runner-up in its tournament.
The Cardinals opened the day with a 25-17 win over Rushville before falling to Connersville 57-18 in the championship game. Nathaniel Fuentes led St. Louis in scoring on the day with 15 points, followed by Nicholas Lieland with 12 and Carter Meyer with 10. Cooper Ulmer, Nolan Steinkamp, and Jacob Hillenbrand each added two points as the Cardinals moved to 7-4 on the season.
The St. Louis eighth-grade boys team also played host during the holiday tournament but came up short in both contests. The Cardinals fell to Rushville 30-23 in the opener, with Cam Walke scoring 11 points and Evan Jennings adding eight.
In the second game, St. Louis nearly completed a comeback against Connersville before a late putback sealed a 39-35 loss. Walke again led the way with 12 points, Jennings finished with eight, and Brock Scheibler added six. The eighth-grade Cardinals return to action with a road trip to Greendale on Saturday (Jan. 4).
Milan Girls, Greensburg Boys Prevail in Pool
Milan and Greensburg met in a competitive co-ed dual meet in the Pirates pool Monday evening, with each team claiming a side of the scoreboard.
Milan’s girls earned the team win, 86-70. Greensburg’s boys answered with an 84-56 victory.
On the girls side, Milan was paced by Lainey Stock, who won the 200 free and 500 free, and Kaitlynn Hicks, who swept the 50 free and 100 free. Milan also captured both freestyle relays, winning the 200 free relay (Ashlyn Dewire, Jordyn Huebner, Kami Laws, Lainey Stock) and the 400 free relay (Dewire, Hicks, T Stock, L Stock).
Greensburg’s girls collected event wins in the 200 IM and 100 breast from Audra Gehl, the 100 fly from Mallory Mains, and the 200 medley relay (Jameson, Gehl, Mains, Walden).
Greensburg’s boys produced wins across the board, led by Jack Bennett in the 200 IM and 100 back, Harrison YU in the 200 free and 100 breast, Tyler Williams in the 50 free and 100 free, and Joseph Hawkins in the 100 fly and 500 free. Greensburg also swept the boys relays, winning the 200 medley relay (Bennett, Reynolds, YU, Koors), 200 free relay (Koors, Hawkins, Williams, Bennett), and 400 free relay (Hawkins, Reynolds, Williams, YU).
Team scores: Girls: Milan 86, Greensburg 70 — Boys: Greensburg 84, Milan 56
Other Sports Items
In baseball, the Cincinnati Reds continued reshaping their roster for the 2026 season by adding outfield depth. Cincinnati signed free-agent outfielder JJ Bleday to a one-year, $1.4 million contract and acquired Dane Myers from the Miami Marlins in exchange for minor leaguer Ethan O’Donnell. To make room on the roster, the Reds designated pitchers Keegan Thompson and Lyon Richardson for assignment.
College football also took center stage, as Indiana arrived in California this week ahead of its Rose Bowl matchup with Alabama. The Hoosiers are listed as a seven-point favorite, with the winner advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
And while South Ripley’s Centerville Holiday Tournament championship was mentioned on air Tuesday (Dec. 30), one moment from the weekend continues to draw attention: Claire Samples’ three-quarter-court shot at the buzzer to end the first quarter during tournament play.
Tonight on The Sports Voice, it’s girls’ basketball action — as North Decatur visits Jac-Cen-Del. Jackson Voss and Garry Sauley have the call, with pregame coverage starting around 6:45 on 103.9 FM and The WRBI App.
Watch the Shot
Here is the video of Claire Samples’ buzzer-beater from the Centerville Holiday Tournament:
A longtime soccer coach and his wife of more than 20 years have opened a youth “ninja gym” in Santa Maria.
From cargo nets to rock walls, the new facility features a series of obstacle courses that offer students different physical challenges.
Owners Djibril and Rashawna Coulibaly say the gym is designed to help kids develop skills in balance, jumping, climbing, and more.
Djibril has coached soccer for more than two decades and says he’s noticed a lack when it comes to athletic fundamentals.
He found that kids were good at their respective sports, but needed an outlet to become better all-around athletes. Then one evening, he had an ‘aha moment.’
“I was at home watching the show American Ninja Warrior, and a light bulb went off. I said, ‘Oh, that would be great to have a gym like that where a youth can actually come in and do all these kinds of movements,’” said Djibril.
From there, the Coulibalys began their research and came across the USA Ninja Challenge franchise. The couple liked the program’s curriculum and gym layout, so they decided to open a facility of their own.
It can be found on the second floor of the Santa Maria Town Center.
When asked why they chose Santa Maria as the location for the gym, Rashawna replied, “This is the community I’ve grown up in. My husband and I have been married for over 22 years, and we wanted to bring something here to our community.”
The gym is currently open to students ages 4 to 17, and kids of all skill levels are welcome.
“The idea is to really meet every child—every student—wherever they are, and to try to help them progress from there,” said Djibril, “The classes are set up in a way so that each student is able to progress at their own pace with the support of the coaches that are leading them.”
Beyond the athletic training, the Coulibalys say their program aims to help kids gain more confidence in themselves.
Djibril says his experience in coaching has shown him how effective sports can be at helping children raise their self-esteem, and become better people in general.
Rashawna told KSBY she is most excited to “see children excel—bottom line.”
“Watching them walk out of the doors with such confidence is just my greatest joy,” she said.
Since opening on Dec. 20, the owners say they’re receiving very positive reactions.
“We’re seeing a lot of excitement,” said Djibril. “The kids come in, and you can see their faces just light up because, I mean, what kid doesn’t want to climb and jump and skip and do all these things?”
The ninja gym—fit with mats, foam, and carpet—provides children with a safe space to engage in such activities, Djibril told KSBY.
Classes, camps, and even parties can all be booked on the gym’s website, or by calling (805)-268-7795.
First-trial classes are also reportedly offered at no charge.
Karisma Mendez doesn’t stand out in one sport but the senior at Burroughs High has drawn attention in two sports.
A gifted and polished infielder for the softball team, she has also distinguished herself on the first-ever flag football team as a quarterback for the Bears.
Mendez’s play was noticed and was selected to play for Mexico in the recently played Friendship Bowl.
“Becoming a part of the Friendship Bowl team for Mexico came from when one of their managers got in contact with one of the softball parents who told my mom that they were looking for a flag football player to play alongside with the team and had a Mexican family background,” she said. “The experience I had with the girls was amazing and such a once in a lifetime experience.”
Mendez, who plays second base and shortstop, added: “The players and coaches were very welcoming, and it was such a great atmosphere as it felt like family when playing with them,” she noted.
Mendez, who also played wide receiver and linebacker, stood out on the gridiron because she’s quick with the pass after tossing 25 touchdowns but also ready to run when it’s necessary after averaging 30.5 yards a game and scoring five touchdowns during the season.
“I loved every single moment playing flag football my senior year. Our team had such great chemistry with each other and we all had so much fun as we were learning the game throughout the season together,” she said. “I believe the best highlights of this season was when we figured out what we were capable of doing and accomplished it towards the end of the season.”
Mendez, who helped the Bears to an 11-13 record, continued: “Being able to throw around 35 to 40 yards and the girls being able to receive them,” she said. “That’s when our connections hit the most.”
Karisma Mendez plays softball and flag football for Burroughs and was also a member of Team Mexico in the recent Friendship Bowl flag football game. (Photo courtesy Karisma Mendez)
Keith Knoop is the Burroughs athletic director and its flag football coach and previously its football coach.
“Karisma is such a fantastic person. She took to girls’ flag football like a bird to flight,” he explained. “Girls’ flag football truly lit a fire in her to love this new phenomenon known as flag football. She was determined to be good and competitive and learn the game. Honestly, she made me excited to coach again.”
Playing softball and later flag football was something Mendez, who will attend college but probably won’t play softball, had in her sights and relished.
“I wanted to play softball in high school because of my life revolving around this sport and all my free time indulging and preparing for games and practices. My siblings played for Burroughs. My sister played softball, and my brother played baseball. I was influenced by myself to become better at them, because of my competitiveness” she said. “As for flag football, I wanted to try something new. I knew my siblings played one season when they were in middle school, so I wanted to test it out and see if I was also able to play. Turns out I was right! But in all seriousness, I wanted to play flag football as it’s a growing sport at the moment especially now that women are getting more recognition playing sports.”
Mendez went on: “Seeing football players wear shirts that encourage those to watch girls’ flag football and seeing the Olympics adding flag football is amazing and now seeing that softball is finally getting a league that is sponsored by MLB,” she said. “It’s great seeing more and more recognition of women’s sports overall.”
Playing two sports takes time, skill and effort and it also requires being patient and analytical.
“To prepare for both softball and flag football I will usually visually manifest what my performance would be to the very breath. I would visualize my swing from gripping the bat to the weather on my skin to the sound of the dugout, and the feeling when hitting,” Mendez acknowledged. “Same goes for flag football, visualizing my grip when throwing, the feeling of the turf, the windows that are possible with the plays, and making that throw to the wide receivers’ hands. Every sport comes down to being a mental game.”
Mendez is about to play her final season on the softball field and she expects it to be rewarding.
“Playing softball has been such an experience with me as I grew up. My entire life revolves around this sport. Starting when I was four years old playing travel ball to now finishing my career during the spring of my senior year,” she said. “I have loved this sport and there were times I had dreaded this sport but yet there has never been a dull moment while playing this sport.”
Mendez continued: “Softball is such a mental game that takes a toll on you, but in the end it is a game you play along with some of your best friends,” she stated. “The connection the softball team has to Burroughs is such a great culture. We all have each other’s backs, and we have such great chemistry on the field.”
Karisma Mendez (No. 34) and her Team Mexico flag football teammates. (Photo courtesy Karisma Mendez)
Doug Nicol is a longtime coach at Burroughs and has seen first-hand Mendez help the Bears to two Pacific League championships.
“I am looking forward to Karisma having a sensational senior year. She is going to be counted on to be a leader on this team,” he said. “She has won two league titles in her three years here at Burroughs, and I know how much a third would mean to her.”
Nicol knows that Mendez is determined to cap her softball career in style.
“She has been putting in the work, both on the field and in the weight room and I am excited to watch her crush it this year,” he said.
Toiling at two sports requires laser-focused dedication and that’s not counting time in the classroom.
“I believe sports helped me become a leader, a problem solver, and become a critical thinker. When playing softball, you need to know the play before the ball gets hit, knowing how many outs, what’s the situation, and know who you should throw to if you get the ball,” Mendez said. “It’s such a critical game that helps thinking on the spot and helps communicating with others.”
Mendez added: “Even if you don’t have the title of being a captain, there’s times where you might need to lead,” she stated. “Meaning helping another player, being there for them, and being vocal during games. With flag football, it helped me learn new skills, being able to adapt to a whole different game by using the same mechanics and alternate them for the better.”
Mendez is keenly aware what her strengths are and they are numerous.
“The best attributes I have both on the field and in the classroom are being a critical thinker and problem solver. There have been so many times in the classroom where I had been confused on the topic but there wouldn’t be a time I would give up,” she said. “That plays along with being on the field. I would never give up if I am in a slump as I would try and find different ways and methods to get myself out of it.”
Mendez wasn’t finished with her thought: “The best thing to do when struggling is to never give up and to keep on trying and you will find a pathway, even if it becomes bumpy,” she said.
Mendez addressed specifically how she gets out of a down period.
“When I was in a slump, I would ask for guidance from either coaches or from the girls. I wouldn’t give up on myself since I knew I had the potential. It was just a matter of fixing my attitude, my rhythm and trying something different,” she said. “Asking for guidance lets you get a perspective others are seeing that could help you solve the puzzle.”
Mendez was asked which softball game or games were the most memorable to date.
“One game that had stood out to me was playing against Crescenta Valley last year, 2025 Senior night,” she said. “I believe that had been one of the best games I had played and a game the entire team did very well. We all played our very best. We were all on our toes wanting that win for Senior Night and in the end we got that win. Another game that had stood out was a pre-season game from this fall as I hit my first home run out of the park against Notre Dame. It felt amazing finally getting that home run I’ve been waiting for my entire high school career.”
In a few months, Mendez will begin her final season as a softball player at the high school level and it will be bittersweet.
“I believe what I will miss the most about high school and playing two different sports is the coaching staff and the girls. Playing with Coach Doug and with Coach Knoop has been such an honor as they both have been coaching for a long time at Burroughs,” she offered. “As for the girls, I have such great love for them all as they had become such amazing friends to play along with and the girls on flag football team created a great experience all together by figuring out how to play a sport, we all barely knew how to play.”
Nicol appreciates everything Mendez has brought to the softball program.
“Karisma is such a joy to coach. With Karisma, you never have to worry if she is going to come to practice ready to go,” he said. “She is dedicated to our program and comes to practice each day with intensity and ready to work hard.”
Nicol continued: “She understands that each day is a competition and realizes that she is a leader in our program who the younger girls look for guidance and to continue the culture that has been built by those before her,” he said. “She wasn’t given anything in her career here at Burroughs. She has had to earn everything, and that was only done because of her work ethic and because she is a person of high character who takes pride in giving 100 percent every single day. She is just an outstanding person who I enjoy coaching very much.”
WASHINGTON (TNND) — A Minnesota state lawmaker said Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and his administration failed to address concerns raised in a state hearing close to two years ago, which flagged daycare facilities suspected of fraud.
Minnesota State Rep. Kristin Robbins, who is making a bid for governor, shared with the New York Post, that she presented a list of daycare facilities which received over $1 million dollars in state funding with multiple violations during a February 2024 hearing.
On that list included “Quality Learning Center,” a children’s daycare center in Minneapolis which went viral last week.
Independent journalist Nick Shirley paid a visit to the daycare during a weekday and noted how the signage of the daycare center was spelled incorrectly as “Quality Learing Center.” Shirley’s video also showed how the daycare center, which according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services provided care for 99 children, was completely absent of children.
“Quality Learning Center” has received roughly $4 million in state funding, and it has racked up 95 violations from Minnesota’s DHS between 2019 to 2023. The violations include failing to have records for all the children tallied to be in their care and failing to keep hazardous items away from children.
“They can’t say they didn’t know,” Robbins said.
“We had a hearing on it. We gave them a list, and nothing has happened. I find it shocking that this is still happening when we flagged something over and over again.”
However, Department of Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner Tikki Brown told Fox 9 that all ten of the facilities featured in Shirley’s video have been visited at least once by the state in the past six months for licensing renewal purposes.
“There have been ongoing investigations with several of those centers,” Brown said. “None of those investigations have uncovered findings of fraud.”
There are a total of 55 open investigations stemming from the administration of funds from the Child Care Assistant Program.
The National News Desk reached out to Walz’s office for comment, but as of publication had not received a response. But a spokesperson from Walz’s office told Fox News Digital that the governor has been a huge proponent in cracking down on fraud such as hiring outside firms to audit payments to high-risk programs and completely shutting down the Housing Stabilization Services program.
“The governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action,” the spokesperson said. “He has strengthened oversight — including launching investigations into these specific facilities, one of which was already closed.”
Chuol Deng of Fort Lewis College looks to pass the ball while playing Western New Mexico University on Nov. 21 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)
Jerry McBride
It’s almost 2026, which means it’s nearly time for Fort Lewis College’s basketball teams to resume their seasons.
The men’s and women’s teams will continue Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on Jan. 8 at home against Western Colorado. Before that, now is a good time to look at which FLC basketball players have been excelling in key statistical categories. Both teams are well-rounded with multiple players excelling in different roles.
Both teams are having quality starts to their seasons, with the women at 9-3 overall and the men at 6-5 overall. Here are the FLC basketball players who rank in the top 10 in the RMAC in key categories:
FLC men’s basketball:
Chuol Deng in rebounds, steals
The FLC men’s basketball team has had multiple players in and out of the rotation due to injuries, but Deng, the fifth-year forward, hasn’t been one of them.
He’s been a consistent double-double threat with his scoring and rebounding. Deng has a great all-around scorer with his outside shooting stroke and added strength inside as a fifth-year player.
With Massal Diouf guarding centers this year, it’s allowed Deng to rebound against players his size and smaller. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see he’s second in the RMAC in rebounding at 8.6 rebounds per game, only behind Colorado Mesa’s Ty Allred at 9.4 RPG. Deng has had at least six rebounds in all 11 games this season, including 10+ in three games.
Deng was an impactful defender last season in his first year playing for head coach Jordan Mast at FLC, with his length and athleticism blocking and stealing. Deng has continued his strong work on the defensive end, ranking seventh in the RMAC with 1.6 steals per game.
As the season goes on and the games get more important, Deng will be relied upon even more, so don’t expect him to go anywhere on these lists.
Jaxon Smith in 3-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goals per game, free-throw percentage
A first-year player for FLC, Smith has made an immediate impact with his sweet shooting stroke, so it’s not hard to believe that Smith is in the top 10 in categories that require quality touch.
The redshirt sophomore guard transfer from Division I Utah State, Smith has spaced the floor for the Skyhawks and, at times, has shown finishing ability inside the arc.
Smith is sixth in the RMAC with a 3-point field goal percentage of 40.5; he’s second with 2.7 3-pointers per game, and he’s third in the RMAC with a 91.3 free-throw percentage.
FLC has dealt with plenty of injuries, so it’ll need Smith’s quality shooting more than ever down the stretch. He’s had four games with at least four 3-pointers.
Yorgio Golesis in assists per game, assist-to-turnover ratio
Yorgio Golesis of Fort Lewis College drives to the basket while playing Western New Mexico University on Nov. 21 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)
Jerry McBride
Another first-year player for FLC, Golesis, a junior guard, has had a quality start to the year for the Skyhawks, starting at point guard.
Golesis has great speed and driving ability, which has drawn defenders and opened up his teammates for easy looks. He’s fifth in the RMAC with 4.2 assists per game, and Golesis is fifth in the RMAC with a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Unfortunately for Golesis and the Skyhawks, he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in FLC’s win over St. Mary’s on Dec. 17. It’s a huge blow for the Skyhawks, who will need other guards to step up to replace Golesis’ playmaking.
Stewart Erhart in steals per game
Anyone who’s watched the Skyhawks over the past two seasons knew this was coming. Erhart, a redshirt sophomore, is a pest on the defensive side of the ball. He’s a big reason FLC’s pressing style works so well, since he catches opposing guards off guard with his steals.
Erhart leads the RMAC with 3.0 steals per game. He’s also increased his offensive capabilities this season, which makes his defensive efforts even more impressive since he has more on his plate this year.
Cassius Carmichael in steals per game
Another player who’s in his second year for the Skyhawks, Carmichael is a worker for the FLC defense with his motor, length and athleticism. The senior forward is eighth in the RMAC with 1.5 steals per game.
Like Deng, Carmichael has been helped by FLC having more size and bodies in its front court. His defense and experience in the RMAC tournament last season will be paramount for FLC.
FLC women’s basketball:
Katie Lamb in 3-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goals per game
Lamb impressed as a freshman last year on a bad team, and she’s shown this season she can still put up good stats on a winning team.
The sophomore guard is seventh in the RMAC with a 29.9 3-point field goal percentage, and Lamb is sixth with 2.2 3-pointers per game. She has a quick and compact release that makes it tough for defenders to cover. Lamb has made at least two 3-pointers in 10 of 12 games this season.
Makaya Porter in blocks per game, steals per game
Deniece Ryan, left, and Makaya Porter of Fort Lewis College play defense against St. Edward’s University on Nov. 18 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)
Jerry McBride
Head coach Lauren Zuniga knew she needed to make some adjustments to her roster after finishing 6-22 overall last season. The Skyhawks needed more size, length and athleticism, so Zuniga brought in Porter to help. It’s paid off so far.
Porter has been a weapon on both sides of the floor with her height and length at 6-feet tall at the forward position. The junior is second in the conference with 1.3 blocks per game, and she’s tied-ninth in the conference with 2.1 steals per game.
She is one of two players to be in the top 10 in both blocks and steals per game in the RMAC. FLC will need her to keep up her defensive prowess as the Skyhawks play tougher competition in conference play.
Josie Davis in steals per game
Josie Davis of Fort Lewis College guards the inbound pass while playing St. Edward’s University on Nov. 18 at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Herald file)
Jerry McBride
Talking to Zuniga last season, she held Davis in high regard as a senior in high school. Now a freshman for the Skyhawks, it’s easy to see why.
Davis is third in the conference with 2.4 steals per game. She has great length for a guard and is active for the Skyhawks’ defense. On offense, Davis is efficient for any player, but especially for a freshman.
Her development over the rest of her freshman season will be fun to watch.
Natalie Guanella in steals per game
Guanella is one of the most experienced players at FLC, with it being her third year at the school and the second year with Zuniga as her coach. Therefore, the junior knows what to do on the defensive end, tied-ninth with Porter with 2.1 steals per game in the conference.
